Serenity – The Storm Is Coming

Santa Monica, this is your head and you're listening to serenity streaming live on one legacy radio. I am actually coming to you live from close to the east coast, as many of you know, in the United States and elsewhere around the world that there is a storm, a gigantic storm hitting much of the Northeast in the United States. I am currently in Ohio so hamdulillah we have not yet been hit too hard. But for example, I just noticed I heard from my sister You know, couple hours a few few hours ago that they lost power in DC and Subhanallah there's there's been news all over of death count rising and floods. I mean, I saw pictures you know, on the news in New York, New York City and it

just it looked like a whole bunch of cars just got swallowed up by a swamp panela so there is there is a giant you know a massive storm hitting the United States right now and I wanted to talk today about the storm on many levels inshallah. First of all, I actually want to hear from those who are experiencing the storm we want to hear about what's your you know, what, what's happening there. I know that a lot of people have lost power, but but other you know, just hearing from your experiences and then I want inshallah, for us to reflect on this. And there's a reason why I want us to reflect particularly on what's going on and that is that Allah subhana wa tada tells us, in the

end, in a few Hulk SMRT will already walk the left relaly we're not really yet in leoline Al Bab and levena Yes, kurunegala pm and Walker Odin wireless newbie him wired for Karuna. If you help us somehow it will honor the robina mahalo aka Heather Bolton and subhanak for Tina either but not this is a very, very profound and deep idea that Allah subhanaw taala tells us in Surah, Allah and Ron, that indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alteration of day and night are Signs for those of understanding Uli l Bab and levena is kurunegala pm and workload and while edge and obey Him those who remember God standing and sitting in on their sides. So these are people who

remember Allah subhanaw taala in every single position in every situation of life, they remember Allah Subhana Allah

Yes, Quran Allah hath em and will corrode and while I do know him waiata Karuna few halka semiaquatic well out of the rubber band America lock the hoverboard and supersonic Falcon nada not. These are those people who are able to read and understand the signs in the heavens and the earth and the alteration of day and night as Allah says, Because Allah has told us that in those things are signs. But the question is whether or not you can see a sign, because a sign can be right in front of your face. But if you are blindfolded, or you are blind, you won't see it. And this is the case with the signs and the heavens and the earth. Only a certain group of people will be able to

understand those signs and see them for what they are. And that group of people are described as ooodle, Al Bab, those of understanding those of intellect those who have that, that depth of understanding and who reflect on these things, those people and then Allah goes on to qualify them as those who remember him standing sitting and on their sides. When they do that, they come to a very important realization, and that is robina mahalo aka Heather. bartholin subhanak. Oh my Lord, you have not created all of this Balti lens, you have not created all of this without a purpose, without a reason for No, you know, there's no reason why it's happening. It's just, you know,

purposeless and, and coincidence, quince, coincidental. Allah subhanaw taala does not do anything without a purpose. So we these are those who look around and they are led to this understanding that not that you did not do all of this. You did not create all of this in the heavens and the earth without a purpose. So the hanoch Allah

High above doing anything without a purpose. And then there's a very, very important end result that they are led to is we're told in this ayah Falconer either but not so protect us from the punishment of the hellfire. I want to take a moment to reflect on this, and why this has anything to do with the storms that's hitting us now what, what is the connection between this idea or these, these reminders in the end and what's happening to us now, first of all, Allah Subhana, Allah is telling us here that there is nothing that he has created in the heavens and the earth, except that it has a purpose, that all of these things are actually signs. When Allah creates the the sun and the moon

and the stars, that is a sign, when Allah sends a storm, that is a sign when Allah makes it rain, that is a sign when Allah sends winds up to 75 miles an hour, that is a sign when Allah uproots, a gigantic oak tree in front of our eyes, we can see it in front of our eyes, that is a sign. If we go through these things. We experience these things, even when we see these things on the news, and we don't understand the sign and the message in it, then we have missed the point, the sign is there for us to read and to understand and to reflect on. So then the question is, what is it that we're supposed to be getting from it? It's a sign of what it's what is the lesson in this. And you'll

notice that first those who reflect on these signs are led to the first realization, which is there have been a Maha lock they have aborted and first realization is to know and acknowledge that it isn't without a purpose, that there is a purpose of why it's raining right now there is a purpose of why the winds are so high and why Allah subhanaw taala has done this, there is a reason. So that's the first realization and the first lesson and understanding is that there is a purpose and that this does not happen haphazardly, or without a reason. Second, second, that immediately leads those of understanding to the next realization, which is theca not. Now this seems like a jump somewhat

because first it's the people are saying that people are acknowledging that all of this, this is not done without a purpose. And then immediately they're led to so protect us from the punishment of hellfire. What's the connection? What's the connection between realizing and reading the signs in the heavens and the earth and knowing that it's not without a purpose and protecting us from the hellfire. And really when you look at it, you understand that if this is a sign, if this is if this is just one

one, you know, glimpse of the power of Allah subhanaw taala then then then this should wake us up. This should make us truly understand. Even you know, imagine, basically imagine what is the power of Allah subhanaw taala in the hereafter and we ask Allah to protect us from his wrath, we ask Allah to protect us from the hellfire. This is Allah subhanaw taala just giving us a glimpse, when Allah allows the earth to shake for just a few seconds, it's called an earthquake, do you know the damage that an earthquake does? You know, if you look at really what is happening, just a few seconds of shaking, and look at the damage and the and the death count that can happen as a result. Now, Allah

is telling us that the Day of Judgment isn't just a few seconds of the earth shaking. But Allah describes these things for us. The Buddha's zoonotic diseases Allah, Allah is describing, you know, not just a few seconds, you know, just a little segment of the earth shaking with the entire, you know, the entire Earth shaking and Allah describing the the heavens opening up like doors, and these are things that are so awesome that we can't even imagine. Allah sends us signs in this life, so that we get a glimpse of it, in order that we can really really wake up from our deep coma, we are in a deep coma Subhanallah we have all many gadgets, we have so many distractions, Allah Subhana

Allah sends a storm like this. And in a second, all power is gone. All power is gone. You don't you can turn on the light. You can plug in your laptop, you lose, you lose that ability. You know, those things that you depend on, they're gone in a second here, you know, again, these are things to wake us up things to remind us and things to bring us back to the understanding really that Allah is the one in charge and that Allah subhanaw taala is you know, it's because he is because of his mercy that we haven't already been destroyed Allah subhanaw taala has the power to completely erase all of us.

And yet Allah subhanaw taala is just giving us a glimpse and so we ask Allah subhanaw taala as those people in sort of lm Ron are described as saying that cannot have not been a miracle have to have about it and so panic when you whether you are experiencing directly this storm or you are seeing it on the news or you're reading it on the internet please don't miss the point don't just look at it and say wow, right like oh man, and that's it and then move on with your life. But please let it let it show you and let it realize the point of it. Well better luck to have a bulletin and so panic low you have not created all of this without a purpose. You're high above that, that cannot have been

not and we ask Allah subhanaw taala to protect us from the punishment of the Hellfire We ask Allah subhanho data to protect us from his wrath and his displeasure. inshallah we will take a short break now and when we return we will open up the chat box. I want to hear from you whether you're on the East Coast or or you know any experiences that you're having personally or those near you with the storm inshallah tada when we return.

Santa Monica Jasmine Mujahid and you're listening to serenity streaming live on one legacy radio, we ask Allah subhanaw taala we want to make dua for all those people who are right now without power due to the storm or who are you know, in, stuck in in the grip of of the high winds and the rain at this time we asked Allah subhanaw taala to to protect them and their families and to and to make them safe. We also ask that these and other signs of Allah subhana wa tada will will wake us up and remind us as they are intended to do about the reality of this life and of the next and of Allah subhana wa tada and make it a reminder of, of coming back to Allah it is it is out of his mercy that

Allah subhanaw taala sends us warnings and that Allah sends us reminders. You know, if you if you're worried about your child, for example, and every time your child starts to get close to something harmful, the child starts to get close to the fire. Every time that you see that happening you would out of your mercy for your child and you know, protective protection and protectiveness over your child you're going to remind the child remember don't get close to the fire Remember, you know, remember that you are the fire burns remember that you're getting close remember where you are remember where you're going you know it's it's it's that constant directing of the child because

you're concerned for for the child and it is you know Allah subhanaw taala who's high above you know this or any analogy Allah sends us reminders out of his mercy, that this is just a glimpse because the the the Zetas Allah of the of the hereafter of the Day of Judgment as we're told in the end is a big thing, in azelis Allah to Satish shade on the other team, that that the the shaking of the hour, is a grand mighty thing. So this is again a lessons us minor signs in this life minor glimpses in this life of that graders and is Allah of that greater shaking of that greater storm. That's that is going to hit

when Allah subhanaw taala decides, and that is the day of judgment. So we ask Allah subhanaw taala to wake us up before it's too late. The the the idea here the goal is we want to wake up before we're woken up, and that that awakening is is going to happen for every single individual no matter how they lived or what they believe that awakening happens at death where the deception of this life is removed, you know that the veil and the deceptions are they crumble and now people will see things Allah subhanaw taala says that on that day, the day of love when we meet a law or the day actually we live this life The day of when when our soul is taken from our body at the at the time

of death. That's the time when our site is sharp and our site is key and and all of a sudden we can see things as they really are. And this is something Allah subhana wa tada tells us when describing the time of death

That, that that the site on that day is keen and sharp. So So we asked a las panatela to wake us up before it's too late to wake us up before that awakening that our awakening will be before the final awakening in sha Allah. So we have some people sharing their experiences with the storm are related to the storm. One listener says it wasn't that bad in my town in Trenton, New Jersey, but a lot of houses lost power and power lines were off like fireworks last night. While law Allah has power over all things. And hamdulillah we are safe and hamdulillah you are safe and we ask Allah Spano thetic to keep all those in the storm safe.

A lot of people are as as the listener said, without power.

Here one listener says people are actually socializing because there is no power. That means no internet and no TV. So you know that there's a lot of different ways to respond. When Allah subhanaw taala takes something away

another comment another listener says

does it mean the storm is an opportunity for the rich to feed the poor?

Hello to Allah Allah, um, you know, Allah sends again, we know that

we know we know that whatever Allah does, he does with a purpose. And and, you know, one of the the opportunities that do arise during times of hardship or during,

you know, these types of, of natural disasters is that that does happen, that, that it's an opportunity for the rich to help the poor for, for those who have or those who have not been affected to go in, and then to help those who are and there's going to be a lot of relief work that's going to be necessary. And yes, it is an opportunity for people to reach out and help those who have been affected.

One person writes, my family is in North Jersey, and I haven't been able to get in touch with them for the past 12 plus hours, they have no power or phone service. May Allah subhanaw taala protect your family and to, you know, allow you to do to get in touch with with your family. Please keep those those families in your doors and we asked the last panel tonight to protect them and, and ultimately to protect us from the punishment of the Hellfire again, even those who are not affected by this storm today. We all we all know that there's there's a larger storm coming. And that's really the the understanding that as a believer we need to have when we see these, these smaller,

lesser storms, that there is a greater storm that Allah describes in the Quran. And you know, it's interesting because when the Prophet sallallahu Sallam first got the revelation, towards the beginning of the revelation, he stood up on the mountain, and he said to his people, if I told you there was an army coming, would you believe me? And everyone said, of course, we would believe you, your soldier kill me, and you're the most trustworthy and you never told a lie. And he told them that I am warning you that there is a punishment coming upon you if you don't believe. And it's just so interesting, because this is exactly how we are today, more than 1400 years ago, we're no

different. That when the news cast, you know when that when that when the forecast tells you that there's a storm coming, nobody doubts it. You know, the man stands up, or the woman stands up on the news and says there's a storm coming. You hear on the radio, they don't even have to prove it to you. They just tell you, the storm is coming. And this is what's going to happen. And this is what you have to do to protect yourself and your family. And they'll tell you to go to the basement, you go to the basement, they tell you to evacuate you evacuate. Why do we do that? We do that because we believe the forecast we believe that the storm is really coming. And when we're told how to protect

ourselves, we hear and we obey, we hear and we obey because we want to protect ourselves and our families. But Subhan Allah, Allah is telling us again and again and again in the Quran, and and in the Sunnah, that there is a storm coming, and he also tells us what is going to happen and he also tells us exactly what it's going and describes what it's going to look like sometimes in a lot of detail. And he also tells us how to take shelter and he also tells us how to protect ourselves and our families. But Subhanallah we don't listen. It's just like that person who hears that there's a storm coming and says you know what, I'm actually busy right now. I'm I'm busy on online or I'm busy

partying or I'm busy on Facebook. I'm at you know, I'm not going to go to the

I'm not going to go to a shelter, I'm not going to go to the basement, I'm not going to evacuate. You told me that if I don't evacuate, my entire I'm going to die. My entire house is going to be destroyed and my family, but I'm, I'm busy right now, nobody says that nobody acts that way. But Subhana Allah, this is exactly how we act with Allah Subhana Allah, Allah tells us here, there is a storm coming. And Allah doesn't lie, Allah tells the truth, Allah tells us exactly what is going to happen. And then Allah tells us that there are certain things we need to do to protect ourselves, there are certain things that we need to do to take shelter, we need to, we need to pray, we need to

stay close to Allah subhanaw taala, we need to stay away from the things that are hot off, we need to stay away from bad company, we need to stay away from the things which are displeasing to him. The This is how we seek shelter. But yet we don't seek shelter. And the question we have to ask ourselves is why not? Why are we not seeking shelter? Is it that we don't really believe is it that we don't really see that the storm is coming? Is it that we just, you know, we believe it in our minds, you know, sort of, you know, in a theoretical way, but we don't really, really really believe it in an experiential way, we don't really see it. And this is really a question we have to ask

because if I'm going to act, you know, if if I'm going to take shelter, I have to really believe the forecast I have to, but I if I know it, if I believe it, and I know for a fact that a storm is coming, there is no way I'm going to put it off. If I need to evacuate, then I'm going to evacuate then and there's not going to be anything that's going to be more important. For sure my party is not more important, for sure how I look is not more important, I'm not going to look in the mirror and check my hair. And, and and you know, try to dress up nice. The fact is I need to protect myself from the storm. And that's going to be my thought process. And, you know, we really need to get into

that, that that state where we see these as reality is just like we see this storm, when we weren't we were told many days ago that the storm was coming. And we believed it. And we prepared ourselves and had and those who were told to evacuate evacuated. This is this is how this is how we as human beings prepare. But But why are we not preparing for the ultimate storm that is coming. And we know for a fact Allah subhanaw taala speaks the truth. And Allah tells us that it is coming. There are more experiences that were that are being shared on the chat box. And and we asked you to, to go ahead and join the discussion. One says

I am from New Jersey and have many family members and friends out there, I grew up in the exact area that was very heavily affected by Hurricane Sandy, the images coming from that area are shocking. But it reminds me that what we went through with this hurricane is nothing compared to what people in Syria have been going through and for such a long time. So it hamdulillah for the small inconvenience of having the power go out for one night, and some flooding compared to the daily bombing, murder and sadness that they face. This is absolutely true. And this is again, one of the signs when Allah subhanaw taala gives us a glimpse of something, it's just a glimpse and and it is a

glimpse of the greater calamities that are affecting those in other parts of the world. And those greater calamities are just a glimpse of the calamity that will affect all of us on the Day of Judgment. And we ask Allah subhanaw taala to make us among those who are protected. And in his in his shade on that day.

Someone else is sharing that they're also from New Jersey and this he says it's crazy out there, I posted a bunch of pictures on my Twitter at me hell 201 no power trees everywhere. So panela you know, it's always really, it's really, you know, powerful when you see a tree that's been knocked down. Because I think that when we see trees, it's one of those things we sort of take for granted as being very solid. You You don't really imagine that a tree is just going to fall in especially with those really massive trees, you know, with the with the very thick, you know, the thick

trunk and it's you know, has the deep roots. It is I mean for me personally, it's a very powerful sight to see. A such a massive tree pulled out from the roots, really, really shows you who's in charge. You know those things and it's a lesson to us because it's those things that we think we take for granted that they're solid we take for granted that they're there you don't imagine a house just being lifted up. You don't imagine a massive tree just being pulled out from the roots but when you see those things, they are signs of the power of Allah subhanaw taala and just where are you really putting your dependence where what is solid

Did you know the things it went when those things that you think are solid and up just pulled out from the roots? It really makes you question Where is really the solid ground and what is really, really to be to be depended on what is really solid. So, you know, Subhanallah The trees are one one big lesson in that in that regard.

someone writes the power of allies great when we see it in these types of situations, it humbles me greatly. And that's exactly what what it's supposed to do. You know, someone else writes, ironically, I felt safe, and I felt closer to Allah, I felt like he was so near and so close, he reveals to us that he is milk.

You know, this is an interesting, this is an interesting point, I and I actually completely agree, when when you think about what is the most humble position that we can be in and in fact, the most helpless. And when you when you when you reflect on it, you'll find that it is in such that, that when you're in prostration, you have your head to the ground, your neck is exposed, you're at your lowest point, you're basically in your most helpless and submissive position possible in such depth. And also, it also happens to be the point when you're nearest to Allah subhanho data. So it's no coincidence that when we're at our most submissive and most humble and most helpless position, we

are also the closest to Allah subhanho wa Taala. So it is true that when these things happen, and we feel the power of a law around us, that it does bring us nearer to him. It's just like the such that it's just like that position of helplessness and, and, and, and just submitting and humility in front of Allah soprano that so the two really do go together that humility, and that neediness.

Sally Qin says I am from Bangladesh, and we can clearly realize the situation during and after a storm. Trust me it's far more worse here when the storms come, but surely Allah possesses power over everything May Allah help all those who are affected, make this incident, a medium of hidayah a medium of guidance. And I mean, in that's exactly the point. Everything that we experience in this life is intended to bring us closer to him is intended to bring us closer to Allah subhana wa Tada. And, and just like the ayah told us from suta Li marohn, in nephew Hawker semeru it will already walk the left relaly when no hurry Allah is in doodle Al Bab. These are all science, you know, all

of the creation of the heavens and the earth, the alteration of day and night. These are Signs for those who have understanding these storms are signs and so you're, you're absolutely right. If these things are bringing us closer, and are waking us up, then they fulfilled their purpose, then we know that and hamdulillah we haven't missed the point. But what we have to fear is that we would experience these things and we'd say, oh, wow, cool, and then move on. You know, it's it's, it's someone who hasn't been woken up and who has completely missed the point. The idea is we are in a deep sleep, we are in a deep coma. You know, so intoxicated by this life, we are intoxicated, and a

lot out of his mercy sends things to wake us up to shake us out of our stupor, and to make us see things as they really are, this is one of those and inshallah We ask Allah Subhana dilates to keep all those affected by these and other disasters and calamities all over the world safe, but also to wake us up before it's too late.

So panela It's a scary reality that we will encounter such a day of turmoil and calamity when our mothers, fathers, siblings, friends and spouses will run away from us in despair, teaches us a lesson that it will be just ourselves in front of Allah. You know, this is a very true and powerful realization, when Allah subhanaw taala describes the Day of Judgment In fact, yes, there are, you know, there's the description, one of the one of the ways in which Allah describes the Day of Judgment is that, you know, mother will throw you know, will put away her own child to save herself that that people will be willing to sacrifice sacrifice their family members, their spouses, even

those who protected them in this world, just to save themselves. This is the the horror of the Day of Judgment. These are this is the reality that we are trying to numb ourselves from we are trying to escape through our gadgets and through our internet and through our phones and through our friends and our parties and all of these things are just numbing us and and distracting us from this reality. And it's interesting too, that this storm calm

And these types of things come and they take out our power, you know, it's, it's just like, you really can't escape, you know, because these were our escapes are our laptops and our TVs and our, and our electronics, all of these things were were our escapes, Allah takes that away, when the power goes colosse like, so much of those things that you use to escape are gone, and even your phone, it's only going to last for so long because then the battery is going to is going to die and you can't recharge it. If there's no power subpanel it's like Allah, you know, closing those doors of escapes, so that we are basically left with only one escape, and that's the right answer only one

door and that's the only door which is the door of Allah subhanaw taala that's the amazing thing about storms. And you can take this analogy and and and it really goes further to all of those hardships in our lives. You know, you find sometimes that when you're in the storm, when you're in the hardship, you you try different avenues, right, you, you know you something hits you, you lose your job, or you don't get accepted to the program that you want or you couldn't marry the person you want or something something some hardship hits you disease, family member loss, and immediately right when the hardship hits you, you look for support in the creation, you look to this person for

help you call that you, you immediately look for the life jackets, right that the things of the creation things of you look, you look to depend on the means. And and you think about this in terms of a storm, that whenever you know we're hit by a hardship, usually, we tend to do that first we tend to go to the creation. First, we tend to look for the life jacket to look for the life, the lifeboats. And it's only when every single door is closed. The life jacket is is torn, the the the life boat has a hole in it, there's, there's there's nothing else we've tried calling our friend, they let us down, we tried asking for help. No one was there, we we've tried all the other doors,

but they all close. And it's interesting to note that when you're in that hardship, you sometimes find that it's in that period of time in that state that everyone you depend on, lets you down. And every door you try to knock on, it slammed shut. So Pamela it's it's one of those sort of experiences that you you start to, to to learn as you go through these things in life. And, and and you know, these things, they happen for a reason. If you imagine that every other door, other than the door of Allah subhanaw taala is a false door, it's a door that's, you know, it's like if you open it, if it were to be opened, you would find there's a drop right on the other side of it. Allah

keeps those doors close to protect us. And so when you when you face that closed door, and then another and then another and then another, don't lose hope, don't despair, but realize that sometimes that happens in order to direct you to the correct door and the only door of salvation and refuge which is the door of Allah subhanaw taala. So this is you know, again, you see this in the physical reality in the storm, you know, this these storms come What do they do? They shut off power. Now you can't What are you going to do, you can't depend on your TV, you can depend on your laptop, you can't use it, there's no more escapes, you know, no more no more of these false refugees

or false any of these false refuges or, or or false dependencies, there is nothing and so Subhanallah it really leads you to focus on the only door and the only salvation and refuge that's actually real.

And so panela and then that's exactly right. You know, muslimah says in the storm, people are praying, making da and even spending quality time with their wives because they're stuck at home. I mean, I pray for all the victims and safety but in another sense, it's just that people are turning to God more than ever, and that and that's exactly what happens when the storm hits. This is an analogy This is a metaphor for the greater reality anytime hardship hits us. This this is this tends to be what happens that that when the hardship hits us when the storm hits us, that's when we're brought back to Allah subhana wa tada and that's when we're actually Allah removes those false

dependencies so that we can find the true dependency and hamdulillah it brings people closer and it brings people closer to Allah subhana wa Tada. Muslim also writes a storm is a blessing in disguise for many people to look up to Allah and realize the importance of life, because unfortunately, not many people have realized the importance of life. Human rights when hardship like this happen, it makes you turn to no one else but Allah subhanaw

Dinah

Absolutely. And you know, there's, there's an, there's an essay I wrote in my book, reclaim your heart and it's called the only shelter in the storm. And the whole idea of it, the whole focus is this is this this fact that when the storm hits metaphorically as well as literally, and and there's nowhere else to turn it, there's only one refuge. It's it's like those hardships that we face in life. Where, where, where we're taught that there's, there's only one place to turn and there's only one place to depend. inshallah, we will take another short break now. And when we return, we'll continue this discussion and sharing your experiences and your reflections on the storm that has now

hit

Assalamu alaikum This is yes, min Raja hit and you're listening to serenity streaming live on one legacy radio. We are talking today about the storm we have, as many of you know,

Hurricane Sandy, we have you know, and again, you know, actually combining with with other storms right now, this this massive storm that's hitting the the north northeast of the United States and and reflecting about what these storms mean, on a on a grander level. What do they mean, in terms of our understanding of this life and of the next and of Allah? subhanaw taala? What are the purpose purposes of these storms, both, both literally and metaphorically in our lives, because even those who of course, are not experiencing rain, and strong winds at this point, may be experiencing storms and other aspects of their life, whether emotional or financial, or or in their relationships, that

these are these are, we're always basically experiencing storms in our lives, whether they're literal or metaphoric, and how do we respond to these storms? And what do they teach us? We have listeners sharing their experiences and reflections. guests. 333 writes, the weatherman told us a storm was coming in to take shelter, we immediately took the necessary means to prepare. The Almighty told us the Day of Judgment is sure to come and yet we do not take heed Subhanallah reminder to myself first and it is a reminder to myself first as well. that these are things that we would never think twice about preparing for if the news told us if the newscast said, if the weather

the weatherman told us we would never we would never hesitate to prepare we would never hesitate even to leave our homes and and and and and just completely evacuated our homes. This is what the the the the people at the party. This is what the companions did the mohajir Oh, and this is what they did. Right? The prophets, I seldom told them, leave your homes for the sake of Allah leave your homes and protect yourself. And ultimately, what are they doing it for? Now this was this was a sacrifice that they made, but they didn't think twice to leave their homes. And this is how we act when the weatherman says evacuate leave your homes. But what we have to ask ourselves is when Allah

subhanaw taala tells us to leave our homes to tells us to sacrifice to to leave those things that we desire, perhaps but Allah subhanaw taala does not love when Allah tells us to leave a particular relationship because it's not pleasing to Him. When Allah tells us to leave a particular business dealing because it's not pleasing to Him. When Allah tells us to leave a certain way of dressing or a certain way of acting because it's not pleasing to Him Are we willing to evacuate Are we willing to leave our to leave those things to leave those things that we love to leave our homes, we aren't a lot of times we are not willing. And yet, if the news if the weatherman told you to leave your

home, you'd leave in a second and you wouldn't think twice. And you know this is this is what people do. They won't think twice about it because they want to protect themselves and their families. But when Allah subhanaw taala tells you to leave your your dating to leave interest to leave you know the the way that the way that fashion tells you to dress Allah subhanaw taala tells us to leave that that that's not the way we're supposed to be dressing that's not the way we're supposed to be acting these we're not able to leave these things which are hot um, and yet we would be willing to leave our homes if if if the weatherman told us to and it is it's a panel it's again, it's a reminder to

myself first and foremost.

This is this is the promise of Allah and the promise of Allah is true. The promise of Allah and His Messenger are true. And they have told us, the storm is coming, leave these things, leave your leave these things behind and protect yourselves. And yet we don't prepare, we don't take heed. And we we hold on. It's, it's like, you know, it's like the person who's told, you know, there is a, there's a hurricane coming. And if you don't leave this house, your entire home is going to be underwater, and your family is going to drown, who's going to sit there on their couch, who is going to sit there and hold on to that house, when they're being told that unless they leave these things, they're

going to drown? No one's going to do that. But Subhanallah we all do that we're all doing that we're all holding on to things. We're all holding on to the haraam. We're all unwilling to let go of these things, because we were so we're so stuck, we're so attached to them, and we're unwilling to leave them even though Allah subhanaw taala is telling us, the storm is coming. And if you don't leave these things, you will drown. And they and you will be you and your family may be destroyed, but yet we don't leave them because we're so attached and holding on so tight Subhan Allah Subhana Allah, it's interesting too, because you know, that it's like thinking about that person who's sitting so

comfortable in their couch and holding the remote in his hand and, and watching TV, and you know, their sirens all around, there's warnings everything, you know, the storm is coming, this house is going to be underwater, get out, evacuate, and the person says no, because I don't want to miss this TV show. You know, no, I'm too comfortable in my couch. Or no, I'm, I'm on Facebook, I'm checking out someone's profile. You know, No, nobody in their right mind would do that. No, but but I'm really comfortable sitting next to this person that I love. I don't want to get up. I don't want to get up I love this person too much. Nobody does that. So panela we are unwilling, we are unwilling

to leave these things even though Allah is telling us that we have to protect ourselves.

Marwa says True. True that until and unless one is inflicted with any hardship, your soul shake hands up. And you get to realize this worldly life is nothing but a temporary gain. And that the world Hereafter is the world forever May Allah subhanaw taala protect us all and mean it actually makes you feel there's none but Allah only the only protection. It does make you feel that because that's the reality. And sometimes the lessons things to take away are blindfolds we are all blindfolded by this life. We are all blindfolded by the distractions of this life, and we're intoxicated. It's just like a person who's drunk. A person who's drunk cannot think straight because

they've they've taken these intoxicants, and it's clouded their mind, but our intoxication is with Yeah, it's with the, the the things that we love of dunya they have intoxicated our minds. So we don't see these things. If someone comes and tells an intoxicated person. You know what you have to leave your home, you have to, you know, you have to protect yourself, you have to go seek shelter, they don't understand they don't they can't fully understand the reality. And that's how we are that's the reason, you know, Subhanallah we, we think about well, what is it what's causing me to not seek shelter? from you know, Allah says, federal Illa Allah escaped to Allah subhanaw taala. And

Allah says, Well, you have zero qumola who nafsa Allah saying that he is warning you against himself, it was warning you and me against himself against his wrath against his anger against his punishment, and his power. Allah has all power. It's all his it's not anyone else's. And he's warning us against it. And the fact that we don't take it seriously, and we don't protect ourselves, there's a reason for it. The question is, what is it and it's either that we don't really believe we don't really see the storm coming. Or it's that we're so drunk, we're so intoxicated by the things in the dunya that we don't that we're that drunk, high person who you're trying to tell them that

the storm is coming, you're trying to tell them that the that the hurricane is going to cover their home, but they don't understand. That's our state. We need to wake up out of that and we need to seek the shelter of Allah subhanho wa Taala.

Let me assess the panel I live in the Midwest or Tornado Alley. During a tornado we grab our emergency kits and head for cover. But in the shelter some people take comfort in music or books or hugging a loved one but all I can think of is it's his day of judgment and how close it is and how I can improve myself and and him to realize that that's what you think of because that's exactly what

We're supposed to think of these are Signs for those who reflect remember that only Al Bab in a fever you know these are in a physical casino it was out of the water laughing lately we're not really getting the O'Neill Al Bab. It's for those of understanding it's those people whose hearts are awake and alive and can see a drunk person cannot understand properly. a blind person cannot see properly a deaf person cannot hear properly. And when Allah describes these people, he says some Bookman omean that he's describing these people as someone Bachman I mean that they're deaf, dumb and blind, they can't see they can't hear they can speak. This is the the description of the one

who's heedless, the description of the one and when a lot of talks about it off alone in the Quran, when he talks about the people, the headless ones, he says lol kulu Goliath Kahuna via that they have hearts that they don't understand with. And they have ears they have, they have eyes, they don't see what that hears ears that they don't hear with. This is the the state and the description of those who are heedless. It's like a drunk person. And and we have to, you know, be those people who have a heart that's awake, we have eyes that can see we have ears. So when we're reminded we understand it is natural to get distracted. It's natural to get off course. But when we reminded we

understand, and we and we and we heed those warnings, that's the state and should be the state of a believer. youngness says when there are no hardships and life is easy, a person becomes so arrogant but Subhanallah by His mercy, he gives us hardship so we can return to Him Allahu Akbar, it is possible for sure that when things are easy, people become arrogant. And yet there are some who when things are easy there are grateful that's the state of a believer and should be in fact, but yes, it is a human weakness and it is human nature that sometimes you know when things are easy, that that does make us heedless and it does make us arrogant but we ask Allah subhanaw taala to be among those

who go between that patience and gratitude when things are hard we are patient and when things are difficult, are when things are easy we are we are grateful.

And and inshallah We ask Allah subhanaw taala again, to to protect those people who are in in any state of hardship, whether in this particular storm or across the world, and we ask Allah subhanaw taala to protect all those people who are in the midst of a different type of storm, because we all have storms in our lives, and whatever type of storm you're facing, we ask Allah subhanaw taala to make it easy for you. And we ask that it becomes a means for you to get closer to Him, to be reminded of him and to awaken us awaken us before we are awakened. At the time of death of who niccone Heather was for Ali Welcome innovaphone Rahim. subhanak Hello mayhem deck, a shadow en la

ilaha illa and istockphoto Quinta tulelake Salam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh